Reduced information processing speed as primum movens for cognitive decline in MS

Background: Cognitive impairment affects half of the multiple sclerosis (MS) patient population and is an important contributor to patients’ daily activities. Most cognitive impairment studies in MS are, however, cross-sectional or/and focused on the early disease stages. Objective: We aim to assess the time course of decline of different cognitive domains. Methods: We collected neuropsychological data on 514 MS patients to construct Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the tests included in the Neuropsychological Screening Battery for MS (NSBMS) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Cox-proportional hazard models were constructed to examine the influence of MS onset type, age at onset, gender, depression and level of education on the time course, expressed as age or disease. Results: Survival curves of tests focusing on information processing speed (IPS) declined significantly faster than tests with less specific demands of IPS. Median age for pathological decline was 56.2 years (95% CI: 54.4–58.2) on the SDMT and 63.9 years (95% CI: 60–66.9) on the CLTR, a memory task. Conclusion: In conclusion, IPS is the cognitive domain not only most widely affected by MS but it is also the first cognitive deficit to emerge in MS.

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T1 Relaxation Times in the Cortex and Thalamus Are Associated With Working Memory and Information Processing Speed in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.789812 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Christian Thaler ◽

Isabelle Hartramph ◽

Jan-Patrick Stellmann ◽

Christoph Heesen ◽

Maxim Bester ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Working Memory ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

T1 Mapping ◽

Relaxation Times ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

T1 Relaxation

Background: Cortical and thalamic pathologies have been associated with cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective: We aimed to quantify cortical and thalamic damage in patients with MS using a high-resolution T1 mapping technique and to evaluate the association of these changes with clinical and cognitive impairment.Methods: The study group consisted of 49 patients with mainly relapsing-remitting MS and 17 age-matched healthy controls who received 3T MRIs including a T1 mapping sequence (MP2RAGE). Mean T1 relaxation times (T1-RT) in the cortex and thalami were compared between patients with MS and healthy controls. Additionally, correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between MRI parameters and clinical and cognitive disability.Results: Patients with MS had significantly decreased normalized brain, gray matter, and white matter volumes, as well as increased T1-RT in the normal-appearing white matter, compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Partial correlation analysis with age, sex, and disease duration as covariates revealed correlations for T1-RT in the cortex (r = −0.33, p < 0.05), and thalami (right thalamus: r = −0.37, left thalamus: r = −0.50, both p < 0.05) with working memory and information processing speed, as measured by the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test.Conclusion: T1-RT in the cortex and thalamus correlate with information processing speed in patients with MS.

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Associations of the Lifestyle for Brain Health Index With Structural Brain Changes and Cognition: Results From the Maastricht Study

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000012572 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012572

Author(s):

Irene S Heger ◽

Kay Deckers ◽

Miranda T Schram ◽

Coen DA Stehouwer ◽

Pieter C Dagnelie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Executive Function ◽

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Grey Matter ◽

White Matter Hyperintensities ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Brain Health ◽

Dementia Risk

Background and Objectives:Observational research has shown that a substantial proportion of all dementia cases worldwide is attributable to modifiable risk factors. Dementia risk scores might be useful to identify high-risk individuals and monitor treatment adherence. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a dementia risk score, the LIfestyle for BRAin health (LIBRA) index, is associated with MRI markers and cognitive functioning/impairment in the general population.Methods:Cross-sectional data was used from the observational population-based cohort of The Maastricht Study.. The weighted compound score of LIBRA (including twelve dementia risk and protective factors, e.g. hypertension, physical inactivity) was calculated, with higher scores indicating higher dementia risk. Standardized volumes of white matter, grey matter, CSF (as proxy for general brain atrophy), white matter hyperintensities, and presence of cerebral small vessel disease were derived from 3T MRI. Cognitive functioning was tested in three domains: memory, information processing speed, and executive function and attention. Values ≤1.5 SD below the average were defined as cognitive impairment. Multiple regression analyses and structural equation modelling were used, adjusted for age, sex, education, intracranial volume and type-2 diabetes.Results:Participants (n=4,164; mean age 59y; 49.7% men) with higher LIBRA scores (mean=1.19, range=-2.7 to +9.2), denoting higher dementia risk, had higher volumes of white matter hyperintensities (β=0.051, p=.002), and lower scores on information processing speed (β=-0.067, p=.001) and executive function and attention (β=-0.065, p=.004). Only in men, associations between LIBRA and volumes of grey matter (β=-0.093, p<.001), CSF (β=0.104, p<.001) and memory (β=-0.054, p=.026) were found. White matter hyperintensities and CSF volume partly mediated the association between LIBRA and cognition.Discussion:Higher health- and lifestyle-based dementia risk is associated with markers of general brain atrophy, cerebrovascular pathology and worse cognition, suggesting that LIBRA meaningfully summarizes individual lifestyle-related brain health. Improving LIBRA factors on an individual level might improve population brain health. Sex differences in lifestyle-related pathology and cognition need to be further explored.Classification of Evidence:This study provides Class II evidence that higher LIBRA scores are significantly associated with lower scores on some cognitive domains and a higher risk of cognitive impairment.

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Reaction Time and Rapid Serial Processing Measures of Information Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis: Complexity, Compounding, and Augmentation

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617711001135 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 1113-1121 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Abbey J. Hughes ◽

Douglas R. Denney ◽

Sharon G. Lynch

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Information Processing ◽

Reaction Time ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Stroop Test ◽

Cognitive Domain ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Serial Processing ◽

Better Than

AbstractInformation processing speed is frequently cited as the primary cognitive domain impacted by multiple sclerosis (MS) and is usually evaluated with reaction time (RT) or rapid serial processing (RSP) measures. The present study compared the efficacy of RT and RSP measures to distinguish between patients with MS (N = 42) and healthy controls (N = 40). The RT measure was patterned after the Computerized Tests of Information Processing and included measures of simple, choice, and semantic RT. The RSP measures consisted of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Stroop Test. Substantial differences in information processing speed between patients and controls were found on all tests, with slightly larger effect sizes for RSP measures than RT measures and for the SDMT than the Stroop Test. Binary logistic regression analyses showed RSP measures performed better than RT measures at distinguishing patients from controls, and likewise, the SDMT score performed better than the scores derived from the Stroop Test. Results are discussed in the context of three effects associated with common measures of processing speed: complexity, compounding, and augmentation. (JINS, 2011, 17, 1113–1121)

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Swimming as a Positive Moderator of Cognitive Aging: A Cross-Sectional Study with a Multitask Approach

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2012/273185 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Amira Abou-Dest ◽

Cédric T. Albinet ◽

Geoffroy Boucard ◽

Michel Audiffren

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Potential Benefits

This study examined whether regular swimming in older adults was related to better cognitive functioning and whether there were any global or selective positive effects of this physical activity (PA) on cognition. The cognitive performances of three groups of sixteen volunteer participants (young adults, sedentary older adults, and older adults who regularly practice swimming) were evaluated using a multitask approach. All participants performed a battery of ten tasks: two reaction time tasks assessing information processing speed and eight experimental tasks assessing three executive functions (EFs), (behavioral inhibition, working memory updating, and cognitive flexibility). The results showed that young adults performed significantly better than older adults on all examined cognitive functions. However, in older adults, regular swimming was related to better performance on the three EFs, but not on information processing speed. More precisely, five experimental tasks out of the eight tapping EFs were shown to be sensitive to positive effects from swimming practice. Finally, the demonstrated benefits of swimming on EFs were not necessarily linked to better cardiorespiratory fitness. The present findings illustrate the validity of using a multitask approach in examining the potential benefits of regular PA on cognitive aging.

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Patients with paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis are at higher risk of cognitive impairment in adulthood: An Italian collaborative study

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458517717341 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (9) ◽

pp. 1234-1242 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Luis Ruano ◽

Mariana Branco ◽

Emilio Portaccio ◽

Benedetta Goretti ◽

Claudia Niccolai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Collaborative Study ◽

Cognitive Disability ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Neuropsychological Profile ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Background: Patients with paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) could be at an increased risk for cognitive impairment (CI), given the potential harmful effects of disease activity in neurodevelopment. However, there is scarce information on their long-term cognitive outcomes. Objective: To compare the prevalence and profile of CI between adults with a history of POMS and those with classic, adult-onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS). Methods: Cognitive performance was assessed through the Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) and the Stroop Test in consecutive patients referred to six Italian MS centres. CI was defined as impairment in ⩾2 cognitive domains. Results: In all, 119 patients with POMS and 712 with AOMS were included in this analysis. The prevalence of CI was 48.0% in AOMS, 44.5% in POMS; with similar neuropsychological profile between the two groups. However, when adjusting for current age, we found a significantly increased risk for CI (odds ratio (OR) = 1.71; p = 0.02) and for impairment in information processing speed (OR = 1.86; p < 0.01) in patients with POMS. A higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was also identified in POMS ( p = 0.03) compared with AOMS patients. Conclusion: Patients with a history of POMS appear to be at higher risk of physical and cognitive disability than AOMS patients, after correcting for age effects, with particular involvement of information processing speed.

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A comparison of cognitive performances between neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis patients in Indian context

The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery ◽

10.1186/s41983-021-00351-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Swati Kumar ◽

Goutam Gangopadhyay ◽

Atanu Biswas ◽

Souvik Dubey ◽

Alak Pandit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Executive Function ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder ◽

Information Processing Speed

Abstract Background To compare the frequency and pattern of cognitive impairment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Results Twenty NMOSD and forty MS patients were included. Clinical and detailed neuropsychological assessment was done using frontal assessment battery and Kolkata cognitive battery supplemented with additional standard tests for different domains of cognitive functions. Domain wise tests were performed and compared. 15/20 (75%) NMOSD and 32/40 (80%) MS patients had cognitive impairment (p = 0.65). Executive function, verbal fluency, information processing speed, visuo-constructional ability, attention, complex calculation, and memory were more commonly involved in NMOSD in decreasing order. Compared to MS, the pattern was similar except that verbal fluency was more impaired in NMOSD. Expanded Disability Status scale (EDSS) correlated with cognitive involvement in NMOSD (p = 0.02) as against MS. Conclusions Executive function, verbal fluencies, and information processing speed were more affected compared to visual and verbal memory in NMOSD patients. The pattern of cognitive performance was similar in the MS group, even though clinical and radiological characteristics and pathophysiology is different, suggesting similar brain involvement.

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Targeted Cognitive Game Training Enhances Cognitive Performance in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated With Interferon Beta 1-a

10.21203/rs.3.rs-725383/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shay Menascu ◽

Roy Aloni ◽

Mark Dolev ◽

David Magalashvili ◽

Keren Gutman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Executive Function ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Interferon Beta ◽

Training Group ◽

Information Processing Speed

Abstract BackgroundPrevention of cognitive decline in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is of major importance. We explored the effect of short-term computerized game training on cognitive performance in MS patients with mild cognitive impairment.MethodsWe enrolled in this prospective study 100 eligible MS patients treated with Interferon-beta-1a (Rebif). All had mild cognitive impairment in either executive function or information processing speed. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either use the cognitive games platform byHappyNeuron (HN) or receive no intervention. Executive function and information processing speed scores were measured at 3 and 6 months from baseline to evaluate the effect of game training on cognitive scores.ResultsIn both executive function and information processing speed, the game Training group showed significant improvement after 3 and 6 months. The Non-Training group showed mild deterioration in both domains at 3 months, and further deterioration that became significant at 6 months in executive function. Furthermore, at 6 months, the percent of patients in the Training group that improved or remained stable in both cognitive domains was significantly higher compared to the Non-Training group.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that cognitive game training has a beneficial effect on cognitive performance in MS patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment. While further evaluation is required to assess the longevity of that effect, we nonetheless recommend to MS patients to be engaged in cognitive gaming practice as part of a holistic approach to treating their condition.

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Cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis predicts worse caregiver’s health-related quality of life

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458514532398 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (13) ◽

pp. 1769-1779 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Andrés Labiano-Fontcuberta ◽

Alex J Mitchell ◽

Sara Moreno-García ◽

Julián Benito-León

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Neuropsychological Test ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Background: Little information exists about how cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients impacts on their caregivers’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Background: The objective of this paper is to examine the extent to which cognitive impairment in MS patients contributes to caregivers’ HRQoL. Methods: A total of 63 MS patients, 63 caregivers and 59 matched controls were recruited. Patients and controls underwent a neuropsychological assessment, including tests of working memory, speed of information processing, executive function, and verbal fluency. HRQoL of the caregivers was assessed by CAREQOL-MS. In logistic regression models, we adjusted for the effects of confounding variables. In these models, the dependent variable was the CAREQOL-MS (higher median of CAREQOL-MS (worse HRQoL) vs. lower median of CAREQOL-MS (better HRQoL) (reference)), and the independent variable was the impairment on each neuropsychological test vs. its integrity (reference). Results: Cognitive impairment in MS patients was significantly associated with worse caregiver HRQoL (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–11.55, p = 0.04). In secondary analyses in which each neuropsychological test was entered in the analyses separately, only Symbol Digit Modalities Test (a measurement of information processing speed) impairment (OR = 4.22, 95%, CI = 1.16–14.53, p = 0.03) was significantly associated with worse caregiver HRQoL. Conclusions: MS patients’ caregivers’ HRQoL is significantly influenced by information processing speed impairment of MS patients.

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Predicting Academic Achievement with Cognitive Abilities: Cross-Sectional Study across School Education

Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.3390/bs10100158 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 158

Author(s):

Tatiana Tikhomirova ◽

Artem Malykh ◽

Sergey Malykh

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Working Memory ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Fluid Intelligence ◽

Number Sense ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Relationship

The relationship between cognitive abilities and academic achievement across schooling from the first to the eleventh grade was analyzed. Information processing speed, visuospatial working memory, number sense, and fluid intelligence were considered predictors of general academic achievement, which was derived from grades in mathematics, language, and biology. This cross-sectional study involved 1560 pupils who were in grades 1–11 at general education schools and were aged from 6.8 to 19.1 years (50.4% were boys). Information processing speed, visuospatial working memory, and number sense were measured using the Choice Reaction Time, Corsi Block-Tapping, and Number Sense computerized tests, respectively. Fluid intelligence was measured using the paper-and-pencil version of the Standard Progressive Matrices test. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were carried out. It was shown that it is possible to describe the structure of the relationship between cognitive abilities and academic achievement for all levels of schooling with a single model. In this model, information processing speed is the key predictor of fluid intelligence, working memory, and number sense, which in turn contribute to individual differences in academic success. Additionally, the specificity of the relationship between individual indicators of cognitive abilities and academic achievement at each level of schooling was revealed.

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